Usually, roman shields were red. A few roman shields were found at Dura Europus (Modern-day Syria). These shields were red in color, some were the traditional rectangular roman shield, others were large ovals. They were made mainly of poplar wood, with leather around the edges, and a dome of iron or bronze in the center. During the second century, the decoration of lightning bolts and eagle wings were the popular design on the shield, though this trend seemed to fizzle out in the 3rd century.
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As the wooden shields were covered in leather, the shields themselves would have been brown or a "leather-brown" to use the artistic color term. However the legion's emblem ( bull, lion, lightning, etc.) would be painted in various colors, generally bright ones.
As the wooden shields were covered in leather, the shields themselves would have been brown or a "leather-brown" to use the artistic color term. However the legion's emblem ( bull, lion, lightning, etc.) would be painted in various colors, generally bright ones.
As the wooden shields were covered in leather, the shields themselves would have been brown or a "leather-brown" to use the artistic color term. However the legion's emblem ( bull, lion, lightning, etc.) would be painted in various colors, generally bright ones.
As the wooden shields were covered in leather, the shields themselves would have been brown or a "leather-brown" to use the artistic color term. However the legion's emblem ( bull, lion, lightning, etc.) would be painted in various colors, generally bright ones.
As the wooden shields were covered in leather, the shields themselves would have been brown or a "leather-brown" to use the artistic color term. However the legion's emblem ( bull, lion, lightning, etc.) would be painted in various colors, generally bright ones.
As the wooden shields were covered in leather, the shields themselves would have been brown or a "leather-brown" to use the artistic color term. However the legion's emblem ( bull, lion, lightning, etc.) would be painted in various colors, generally bright ones.
As the wooden shields were covered in leather, the shields themselves would have been brown or a "leather-brown" to use the artistic color term. However the legion's emblem ( bull, lion, lightning, etc.) would be painted in various colors, generally bright ones.
As the wooden shields were covered in leather, the shields themselves would have been brown or a "leather-brown" to use the artistic color term. However the legion's emblem ( bull, lion, lightning, etc.) would be painted in various colors, generally bright ones.
As the wooden shields were covered in leather, the shields themselves would have been brown or a "leather-brown" to use the artistic color term. However the legion's emblem ( bull, lion, lightning, etc.) would be painted in various colors, generally bright ones.
As the wooden shields were covered in leather, the shields themselves would have been brown or a "leather-brown" to use the artistic color term. However the legion's emblem ( bull, lion, lightning, etc.) would be painted in various colors, generally bright ones.
During the Republican and Principate periods in the Roman army, the standard legionary shield was rectangular. However, the auxilia and late roman army both had oval or circular shields
Roman shields as well as the other military equipment was made by workers in the armories which were scattered throughout the empire.
In the course of a battle military shields were essential. They protected the soldier from arrows and javelins. In close hand to hand combat they were used to block the enemy's sword or dagger. The size and shape of Roman legion shields changed from time to time, based on the fact that the history of Roman warfare stretched out almost 1,000 years.
The Roman army formation called testudo got its name from the tortoise. The word "testudo" in Latin means tortoise. The formation was of interlocking shields both overhead and along the sides, protecting the men beneath as the shell of a tortoise protects the body of the animal.The Roman army formation called testudo got its name from the tortoise. The word "testudo" in Latin means tortoise. The formation was of interlocking shields both overhead and along the sides, protecting the men beneath as the shell of a tortoise protects the body of the animal.The Roman army formation called testudo got its name from the tortoise. The word "testudo" in Latin means tortoise. The formation was of interlocking shields both overhead and along the sides, protecting the men beneath as the shell of a tortoise protects the body of the animal.The Roman army formation called testudo got its name from the tortoise. The word "testudo" in Latin means tortoise. The formation was of interlocking shields both overhead and along the sides, protecting the men beneath as the shell of a tortoise protects the body of the animal.The Roman army formation called testudo got its name from the tortoise. The word "testudo" in Latin means tortoise. The formation was of interlocking shields both overhead and along the sides, protecting the men beneath as the shell of a tortoise protects the body of the animal.The Roman army formation called testudo got its name from the tortoise. The word "testudo" in Latin means tortoise. The formation was of interlocking shields both overhead and along the sides, protecting the men beneath as the shell of a tortoise protects the body of the animal.The Roman army formation called testudo got its name from the tortoise. The word "testudo" in Latin means tortoise. The formation was of interlocking shields both overhead and along the sides, protecting the men beneath as the shell of a tortoise protects the body of the animal.The Roman army formation called testudo got its name from the tortoise. The word "testudo" in Latin means tortoise. The formation was of interlocking shields both overhead and along the sides, protecting the men beneath as the shell of a tortoise protects the body of the animal.The Roman army formation called testudo got its name from the tortoise. The word "testudo" in Latin means tortoise. The formation was of interlocking shields both overhead and along the sides, protecting the men beneath as the shell of a tortoise protects the body of the animal.
If you mean the design of the shield, it was updated with the times. The early armies used roundish or oval shields, then changed to the rectangular shield, which in turn gave way to the rectangular curved shield. With this curved shield a man could step into his shield to use it for pushing and it also protected his sides to an extent. If you mean any design on the outside of the shield, it was the emblem of the legion, if it was there at all. Most Roman shields are believed to have been unadorned, despite what Hollywood tells you.
According to the ancient writer Polybius, the Roman shield was convex in shape and had straight sides. It was 4 feet long and 2 1/2 feet wide. The Romans had several shields. The first known one was the clipeus and was modelled on the Greek Hoplon. It was round and concave. it was nearly 1 yard across and was made of wood with bronze on the outside and leather on the inside. In the Samnite wars, the Romans adopted the Samnite scutum. Originally it was oval and concave. Its size is mentioned above. The measurement is in Roman feet (1 Roman foot = 0.9708 English feet). Later it became square. The Parma shield was introduced in the late empire. It was used by the auxiliaries and the cavalry. It was very similar to the clipeus, but it was made of iron.